Caption: The current "Monday Night Football" logo (2023-present). | Photo credit: BarrettSportsMedia.com
- Marquee Matchups: Jets vs. 49ers in Week 1, NFC Championship re-match in Week 17 (Lions vs. 49ers), Bengals vs. Cowboys in Week 14, Texans vs. Cowboys in Week 11, Giants vs. Steelers in Week 8 and much more.
- Family Rivalry during Thanksgiving Week: The Harbaugh (Jim's Chargers vs. John's Ravens) brothers square off during Week 12, in the first meeting between these two since Super Bowl XLVII.
- Multiple Monday night contests during select games, ABC simulcasts and exclusive games, ESPN+ exclusive game, flex scheduling and much more.
- Week 18 Doubleheader Saturday concludes regular season (Saturday, January 4).
- Monday night Super Wild Card game and Divisional Playoff game.
- Joe Buck, Troy Aikman & Lisa Salters return for third season as the Monday Night Football announce team.
- Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli return for fourth straight season.
ESPN's 2024-25 NFL schedule has 25 games on the docket, headlined by 21 Monday Night Football games, the return of the Week 18 Doubleheader Saturday, a Monday night Super Wild Card game and a Divisional Playoff game. Schedule improvements return, including ABC exclusive games and simulcasts, an ESPN+ exclusive game, multiple Monday Night Football games on the same night, flex scheduling and more!
The 2024 Monday Night Football schedule has the defending two-time Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, the defending NFC champion San Francisco 49ers, and both conference runner-ups, the Baltimore Ravens and the Detroit Lions, appear on the show at least twice. The Dallas Cowboys get two hosting assignments on Monday Night Football and the Buffalo Bills show up on the MNF twice, including a road game against the New York Jets.
The 49ers bookend the Monday Night Football season (Weeks 1 and 17), first by hosting Garrett Wilson and the New York Jets, and then punctuating the franchise's year with a NFC Championship re-match against Aidan Hutchinson and the Detroit Lions. Overall, the Monday Night Football schedule is embellished by showing off the league's best teams, most popular players, and storylines throughout the entire season. Highlights:
- Texas-Sized Showdown: The Dallas Cowboys will host their in-state rivals, the Houston Texans (Week 11), followed by a game against the Dallas Cowboys (Week 14).
- MVP Quarterbacks, Early and Often: Ravens' Lamar Jackson (Weeks 7 & 12), Jets' Aaron Rodgers (Weeks 1 & 6), and Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes (Weeks 5 & 9) all appear twice.
- Thanksgiving Week Harbaugh Bowl: The holiday week begins (Monday, Week 12), with both Jim and John Harbaugh battling it out, their first head-to-head coaching battle since Super Bowl XLVII.
- The NFL's next Superstars: The 2024 NFL Draft's first two overall selections, Bears' Caleb Williams and Commanders' Jayden Daniels (Week 3) are expected to make their Monday Night Football debuts this season, with Williams potentially going head-to-head with Vikings' J.J. McCarthy (Week 15). New Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. makes his Monday Night Football debut against Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers (Week 7).
- Week 18 Doubleheader Saturday: Two games with postseason stakes will take place on Saturday, January 4 at 4:30 PM ET and 8:15 PM ET on ESPN & ABC. Both matchups will be announced following the conclusion of Week 17.
Monday Night Football's Joe Buck, Troy Aikman & Lisa Salters come back to work third season as a commentary team
Joe Buck, Troy Aikman & Lisa Salters are back for the third straight year calling Monday Night Football games. For Buck & Aikman, the duo is now entering their 23rd season as broadcast partners (2002-present), extending their record as the longest tenured broadcast pairing in NFL history. Salters begins her 13th season on the MNF sidelines, the longest-tenured sideline reporter in Monday Night Football history.
Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli return for the fourth straight year
Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli is back for the fourth straight season with 11 games overall, including the Week 1 Jets vs. 49ers game. Two-time Super Bowl champion Peyton Manning alongside his brother, two-time Super Bowl MVP, Eli Manning will provide commentary during select Monday Night Football games, with all episodes airing on ESPN2, with select programs on ESPN+. As a new twist for this season, eight-time Super Bowl champion (six with Patriots as head coach & two with Giants as defensive coordinator) and former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick will join the Manning brothers for commentary during all Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli episodes in 2024, including the Week 1 Jets-49ers game.
Breakdown of the NFL on ESPN schedule for 2024:
- More Monday Night Football action: 21 Monday Night Football games, which includes the ESPN+ exclusive game moving from Sunday morning to a Monday night, and three exclusive games on ABC. Fans will have multiple games to enjoy during Weeks 3, 4, 7 & 15.
- ABC Simulcasts: ABC will simulcast four Monday Night Football games in 2024, both Week 18 Saturday games, and then the Monday night Super Wild Card game and Divisional game. The four Monday Night Football simulcasts are: Jets-49ers (Week 1), Giants-Steelers (Week 8), Bengals-Cowboys (Week 14) & Lions-49ers (Week 17).
- Flex Scheduling: For the second straight year, flex scheduling can be used for select Monday nights during the 2024 season. Flex scheduling can be used for any Monday Night Football airing during Weeks 12 through Week 17.
- Monday Night Super Wild Card: For the fourth straight year, ESPN and ABC will present a Monday night Wild Card Game to finish up the first weekend of the NFL playoffs. That game will air on the night of Monday, January 13.
- Divisional Round: For the second straight year, ESPN and ABC will have a Divisional Playoff game on either Saturday, January 18 or Sunday, January 19.
The 2024 Hall of Fame Game airs on ESPN and ABC
ESPN will start the 2024 NFL preseason with the Hall of Fame Game, featuring the Chicago Bears and the Houston Texans on Thursday, August 1, at 8:00 PM ET. ABC will simulcast ESPN's presentation of the game.
Monday Night Football's Joe Buck, Troy Aikman & Lisa Salters, alongside reporter Laura Rutledge, will provide commentary from Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, signaling the beginning of the NFL's 105th season of operation.
Jason Kelce joins Monday Night Countdown
The Monday Night Countdown (generally 6:00 PM ET to 8:00 PM ET on ESPN, with select versions of the program airing on ABC) gets a little bit of a refresh for the 2024 season. Super Bowl LII champion and seven-time Pro Bowl center Jason Kelce makes his transition from the playing field to the studio as a studio analyst for the Monday Night Countdown pregame show. Kelce joins host Scott Van Pelt, analysts Ryan Clark & Marcus Spears, with Adam Schefter serving as the "insider" of the program.
The 2024 Monday Night Football on ESPN and ABC schedule is attached 🖇 below:
- NFL on ESPN/ABC: 2024 Preseason, Regular Season & Postseason Broadcast Schedule (All Times Eastern and Subject to Change)
Preseason:
* Preseason Hall of Fame Game - Thursday, August 1
. Texans vs. Bears (Canton, Ohio) - ESPN/ABC, 8:00 PM (ET) - Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters, Laura Rutledge
Regular Season:
| Week 1 - Monday, September 9
. Jets at 49ers - ESPN/ABC/ESPN2/ESPN+, 8:15 PM (ET) - Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters, Laura Rutledge (ESPN/ABC); Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Bill Belichick (ESPN2/ESPN+)
| Week 2 - Monday, September 16
. Falcons at Eagles - ESPN/ESPN2, 8:15 PM (ET) - Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters (ESPN); Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Bill Belichick (ESPN2)
| Week 3 - Monday, September 23 (Doubleheader)
. Jaguars at Bills - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - Chris Fowler, Dan Orlovsky, Louis Riddick, Laura Rutledge
. Commanders at Bengals - ABC, 8:15 PM (ET) - Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters
| Week 4 - Monday, September 30 (Doubleheader)
. Titans at Dolphins - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - Chris Fowler, Dan Orlovsky, Louis Riddick, Laura Rutledge
. Seahawks at Lions - ABC, 8:15 PM (ET) - Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters
| Week 5 - Monday, October 7
. Saints at Chiefs - ESPN/ESPN2, 8:15 PM (ET) - Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters (ESPN); Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Bill Belichick (ESPN2)
| Week 6 - Monday, October 14
. Bills at Jets - ESPN/ABC/ESPN2, 8:15 PM (ET) - Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Laura Rutledge (ESPN/ABC); Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Bill Belichick (ESPN2)
- Note: Lisa Salters & Laura Rutledge were originally scheduled to share the sidelines, but Laura Rutledge replaced Lisa Salters as sole reporter (personal matter).
| Week 7 - Monday, October 21 (Doubleheader)
. Ravens at Buccaneers - ESPN/ABC/ESPN2/ESPN+, 8:15 PM (ET) - Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Laura Rutledge (ESPN/ABC traditional telecast); Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Bill Belichick (ESPN2/ESPN+ MNF with Peyton and Eli presentation)
- Note: Laura Rutledge replaces Lisa Salters (personal matter).
. Chargers at Cardinals - ESPN+, 9:00 PM (ET) - Chris Fowler, Dan Orlovsky, Louis Riddick, Molly McGrath (ESPN+ traditional telecast); Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Bill Belichick (ESPN+ MNF with Peyton and Eli presentation)
- Note: Molly McGrath replaces Laura Rutledge (replacing Salters on BAL-TB).
| Week 8 - Monday, October 28
. Giants at Steelers - ESPN/ABC/ESPN2/ESPN+, 8:15 PM (ET) - Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters (ESPN/ABC); Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Bill Belichick (ESPN2/ESPN+)
| Week 9 - Monday, November 4
. Buccaneers at Chiefs - ESPN/ABC/ESPN2, 8:15 PM (ET) - Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters, Laura Rutledge (ESPN/ABC); Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Bill Belichick (ESPN2)
| Week 10 - Monday, November 11
. Dolphins at Rams - ESPN, 8:15 PM (ET) - Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters
| Week 11 - Monday, November 18
. Texans at Cowboys - ESPN/ABC/ESPN2, 8:15 PM (ET) - Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters (ESPN/ABC); Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Bill Belichick (ESPN2)
| * Week 12 - Monday, November 25
. Ravens at Chargers - ESPN/ABC/ESPN2, 8:15 PM (ET) - TBD (ESPN/ABC); TBD (ESPN2)
| * Week 13 - Monday, December 2
. Browns at Broncos - ESPN, 8:15 PM (ET) -
| * Week 14 - Monday, December 9
. Bengals at Cowboys - ESPN/ABC/ESPN2/ESPN+, 8:15 PM (ET) - TBD (ESPN/ABC); TBD (ESPN2/ESPN+)
| * Week 15 - Monday, December 16 (Doubleheader)
. Bears at Vikings - ABC, 8:00 PM (ET) -
. Falcons at Raiders - ESPN, 8:30 PM (ET) -
| * Week 16 - Monday, December 23
. Saints at Packers - ESPN/ABC, 8:15 PM (ET) -
| * Week 17 - Monday, December 30
. Lions at 49ers - ESPN/ABC, 8:15 PM (ET) -
| * Week 18 - Saturday, January 4 (Regular Season Finale Doubleheader)
. Teams TBD - ESPN/ABC, 4:30 PM (ET) -
. Teams TBD - ESPN/ABC, 8:15 PM (ET) -
Postseason:
| AFC or NFC Wild Card Game - Monday, January 13
. Teams TBD - ESPN/ABC/ESPN2/ESPN+, 8:15 PM (ET) - Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters, Laura Rutledge (ESPN/ABC); Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Bill Belichick (ESPN2/ESPN+)
| AFC or NFC Divisional Playoff - Saturday, January 18 or Sunday, January 19
. Teams TBD - ESPN/ABC, TBD (ET) - Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters, Laura Rutledge
- Sources 🛈: NFL Communications, ESPN Press Room
=== ### ===
Chris Fowler calls:
ReplyDeleteWeek 3: WSH CIN
Week 4: TEN MIA
Week 7: LAC ARZ
Week 15: CHI MIN
Would be interesting to have Fowler call an ABC game.
DeleteWhy is the Chargers-Cardinals game an ESPN+ game?
ReplyDelete@Mark T. Mark, ESPN+ is NOT airing any London games this season. The NFL Network will be airing all three London games this season, instead. That meant that ESPN+ had to find another game on the schedule to get their exclusive game. That's why LAC/ARI in Week 7 was chosen.
DeleteOk.
DeleteWhy are there some games not simulcast on ESPN and ABC.
ReplyDelete@Mark T. Mark, that was a one-off in 2023 due to the writer's strike. There was never no plans whatsoever to bring weekly ABC/ESPN simulcasts to Monday Night Football on a weekly basis.
DeleteOh. That makes sense.
DeletePredictions-
ReplyDeleteFowler/Riddick/Orlovsky/Rutledge call WSH/CIN, TEN/MIA, LAC/ARI, and ATL/LV.
Buck/Aikman/Salters call the rest.
@Mark T. Mark, that sounds about right. Last year, when ESPN and ABC had the three Monday night doubleheaders, Buck/Aikman called the ABC games (CLE/PIT, PHI/TB & GB/NYG) and Fowler/Riddick/Orlovsky called the ESPN (NO/CAR, LAR/CIN & TEN/MIA) games. ABC takes top priority over ESPN during doubleheader nights.
DeleteYeah. It would be interesting to have Fowler call an ABC game.
DeleteInteresting to have Laura Rutledge join Buck, Aikman and Salters.I
ReplyDelete@Mark T. Yes, it is. But, according to an ESPN release that I saw, Laura Rutledge will be specifically interviewing each of the Hall of Fame inductees that are able to make it to Canton, Ohio.
DeleteAlso, Laura Rutledge is receiving some top billing. If you recall, Mark, Rutledge worked the playoffs with Buck/Aikman/Salters last season (PHI/TB and HOU/BAL).
So basically for special events like the Hall of Fame Game and the postseason, Laura Rutledge (the #2 reporter) joins the Buck/Aikman crew. Kinda like how CBS and FOX use multiple sideline reporters for marquee events. I am not surprised by this at all. Lisa and Laura can split the sideline duties instead of Salters having to conduct all of the interviews (both football and the HOF inductees).
Yes, I do remember her calling the playoffs last year. It's smart of ESPN and ABC to have one person interview the hall of famers and one do the actual game.
DeleteLisa Salters is dealing with a personal matter, therefore Laura Rutledge is the only sideline reporter for the game between Bills and Jets
ReplyDeleteESPN has said that Lisa Salters will be absent for the second straight week, again due to dealing with a personal matter. So Laura Rutledge will fill in for her in working the Ravens vs Buccaneers game with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman. To fill in for Laura in the game between Chargers vs Cardinals, ESPN will send Molly McGrath to work with Chris Fowler, Dan Orlovsky and Louis Riddick.
ReplyDeleteI sure hope she's ok.
DeleteI have PIT CIN or LAC ATL flexed in for CLE DEN in Week 13 (not considering SEA NYJ) and PHI WSH flexed in for NO GB in Week 16
ReplyDeleteCLE DEN I agree will be flexed out, but the Packers always have at least one Monday Night game so unless they were flexed in some other time that will certainly stay on MNF.
DeleteThat's a Good Idea by Flexing Possible Three of Those Games and I like it a lot.
ReplyDeleteMore Likely, That Week 14 Monday Night Football on ESPN between Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys will be Flexed and It wouldn't surprise me at all Given Both of Their Current Records Right Now.
ReplyDeleteSo, with the alternate MNF broadcast, does that make Bengals-Cowboys pretty much immune to being flexed?
ReplyDeleteProbably.
DeleteIf that game were to be flexed the only replacement option is SEA ARZ. The Week 14 1:00 ET games are awful outside of Falcons Vikings and Minnesota has a home game the next week on MNF against Chicago. Also BUF LAR and CHI SF can't be flexed because they have TNF in Week 15. I also have LAC ATL as the game that gets flexed into Week 13 MNF because they'll want to give Falcons another primetime game.
DeleteLaura Rutledge is also working as a sideline reporter for the game between Bucs and Chiefs, along with Lisa Salters
ReplyDeleteI really think Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys do need to be Flexed in a Few Weeks Considered Both Teams' Records and I can also see Los Angeles Chargers and Atlanta Falcons to be Flexed as Well So That's a Possibility so Hopefully ESPN do the Right Thing and You All are Right for a Lot of Reasons so Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI really don't like Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos to be on ESPN Because Cleveland Browns Currently has a 2-7 Record and Denver Broncos are At .500 at 5-5 So That Game More Likely to be Flexed for Los Angeles Chargers and Atlanta Falcons If They Allowed It So What Do You Think of It?
ReplyDelete